Top Vietnamese Restaurant in San Carlos
Pho Vinh Vietnamese Restaurant
1065 Holly St #A, San Carlos, CA 94070, United States
Ok pho shop. I think I would only go here because theres no other Vietnamese restaurant in San Carlos. Soup is on the salty side. Meat is tougher than what Im used to.
East Side Banh Mi
Located in: Noshery, 1754 Laurel St, San Carlos, CA 94070, United States
Worst banh mi I ever had. A laughable rendition of a San Francisco classic. The cook obviously didn't care about what he was doing. First when I opened it I was laughing out loud about how they cut it not in half like the cut was like at the top of sandwich like you would do 6 pieces. The chicken was dry and flavorless cut up in cubes. there was no pate like the menu said. There was a huge thick handful of uncut cilantro with super long stems slapped ontop then it was randomly wet. Like just clear water leaking all of the paper. I took 3 bites and couldn't continue. Worst part was the guy at the register argued with me yelled and screamed wouldn't let me talk refused to give me a refund just told me to “write down my credit card information” like what? He kept telling me to look at the picture on the wall of what banh mi is like I've eaten it a million times I know how it's supposed to be. Worst place ever don't waste your time here.
Asian Box
Located in: Noshery, 1754 Laurel St, San Carlos, CA 94070, United States
Critically, this is NOT a dedicated gluten free facility. Unfortunately for those of us who are Asian Box regulars due to them using dedicated gluten free kitchens, this is a shared ghost kitchen which also produces wheat-containing meals. This is not safe for those of us with Celiac, Hashimotos, or wheat allergies.
Top other services in San Carlos:
Sunshine HK Cafe
635 Laurel St, San Carlos, CA 94070, United States
Fried chicken wing - Dont underestimate fried chicken wing, you can taste a good one compared to bad ones and this is one of the best Ive had. Good garlic flavor and crispy fried flavor.Baked Spaghetti Bolognese - I was surprised how good this is. They use the good cheese and you can smell it. Crispy cheese on top and the sauce flavor is very good as well.Baked pork chop over rice - The sauce is above average. However, the pork chop could use more marinate, garlic and sesame oil. I think the pork chop they use is pork loin. Using more fatty pork will make it more tender and juicy.Portuguese style baked chicken rice - The flavor of the sauce actually was pretty good but I thought it taste a little sourness.All in all, Im pretty impressed because I didnt expect its this good.
SC Noodle House
648 El Camino Real, San Carlos, CA 94070, United States
New fusion restaurant at San Carlos. It serves Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean dishes. It has full bar service. We didnt make a reservation and get seated right away. It was not busy when we arrived but after thatvit was packed. The interior is very nicely decorated.We ordered rare beef pho and salt and pepper wing. The dishes were ready pretty quickly. The service is goodThe chicken wing is yummy but a bit salty. The soup of the pho is not hot enough and also too sweet for me. I can taste a strong onion flavor, and sweetness is from the onion. I prefer less sweet. The meat is tender. Overall, the food is good, but if you are looking for authentic pho soup, this might not be the one. Next visit, we will try other dishes. Price is a bit high but reasonable. The restaurant also adds 3.25% for good living wages on the bill. If you want to try various asian noodles and cusines under one roof, you should give it a try.
Nursel Central Asian & Russian Cuisine
601 Old County Rd, San Carlos, CA 94070, United States
Nestled in the heart of San Carlos, Nursel Central Asian & Russian Cuisine emerges as a beacon of culinary delight, offering an authentic taste of Kyrgyzstans rich and comforting flavors. This hidden gem, though unassuming in its location, has quickly become a sanctuary for those craving the warm, homemade essence of Central Asian cuisine, particularly resonating with the Russian-speaking communities and those from former Soviet states.From the moment you step inside, youre greeted with the aroma of traditional dishes that speak volumes of the Kyrgyz culinary heritage. The menu, a carefully curated collection of favorites, features the soulful Plov, hearty Lagman, delicate Pelmeni, and the succulent Chicken Stroganoff, each dish promising a journey to the heart of Kyrgyzstan. The Napoleon Cake and the Carrot Salad stand out as must-tries, embodying the essence of homemade delight.Patrons rave about the authenticity and quality of the food, with many highlighting the Borscht, Olivie, and the uniquely prepared Kuurdak for their exceptional taste and comforting flavors. The hospitable service, often led by a gracious Kyrgyz lady, adds a personal touch that makes every dining experience feel like a visit to a beloved family home.Nursel is more than just a restaurant; its a cultural haven that bridges the gap between the Bay Area and the distant steppes of Kyrgyzstan. It stands out as a rare find in the region, offering a taste of Slavic-descendant nations cuisine, which is both rare and cherished in this part of the world.Whether youre well-acquainted with Central Asian dishes or eager to explore new culinary territories, Nursel promises an experience thats both familiar and novel. Its a heartfelt invitation to indulge in the genuine flavors of Kyrgyzstan, making it a must-visit for anyone in the Bay Area looking to explore the rich tapestry of Central Asian cuisine.
Gulzaar Halal Restaurant & Catering
1880 W San Carlos St, San Jose, CA 95128, United States
Ive had Gulzaar Halaal (GH) on my radar for quite some time. The only thing keeping me from visiting sooner is my cultural heritage; being of Middle Eastern descent, its hard for me to eat Arabic-type food without comparing it to Moms. I know its not fair to do that, but it is what it is. I probably wouldve continued to hesitate coming to GH, but my work cohort -who knows a thing or two about food- was waxing poetic to me about it. So, I finally sucked it up and we made our way there. I actually enjoyed it so much, I went there two days in a row! Heres a dish-by-dish breakdown:Appetizers:Chicken Samosa- Freshly deep-fried pastry filled with ground chicken and spices; it also comes with a spicy tomato chutney that was terrific. The pastry was pretty great and the chicken had good flavor. I think some cheese in there would really put it over the top, but thats neither here nor there. 4*Manakesh:Zaatar with Jebneh- The simplest way to describe Manakesh is to call it Arabic Pizza. Ive had it with Zaatar (dried thyme, sesame seeds, & olive oil); meat; and cheese with various herbs, spices and veggies. GHs Zaatar and Jebneh (Arabic Cheese) is very unique to myself, and Ive gotta say it was terrific--especially the Jebneh! Id prefer the bread to be a little more doughy, but never mind me. 4.5*Specialties:Mix Plate w/ Biryani Rice- You get to pick two meats to go with the Biryani and I chose the Beef Kebab and Chicken Tikka. The Tikka was OK; a little dry and I wouldve liked more spice on it. The Kebabs were great; the meat was tender, spicy and tasty, but the real star was the Biryani Rice! Im usually not a big rice guy, but I swear it tasted better and better with every bite. Great Saffron flavor and my favorite part were these little red crunchy bits that were tiny explosions of flavor. I could eat this dish every day! Tikka 3*/Kebab 4.5*/ Biryani 5*Wraps:Beef Kebab Wrap- GHs great Beef Kebabs, tomato, lettuce, cucumber, pickled carrots, yogurt, and mayo wrapped in a huge pita. This is a great, quick and cheap meal for only $7 it really fills you up. My only qualm would be Id prefer less lettuce and more of the other veggies. 4*Service & Ambiance- The owner of GH is extremely nice and seeing his young kids (Spring Break) helping out in the store was fun. This is exactly the kind of small business owner we should be supporting. GH is located in a suspect neighborhood with only street parking available. However, the store itself is clean, well decorated, and tiny (I believe it only holds ±30 patrons). It fills up fast, so get here early! 5* Service/ 4* AmbianceValue- GH is a good value; everything runs from the $6-12 range for entrées, and the samosas are only a few bucks. 4*I think Yelp has the rating right for GH at 4.5-stars, but I think the friendly service and good value give this place the 5-star boost. Its not quite as good as Moms home cooking, but then again--what is?!
Noshery
1754 Laurel St, San Carlos, CA 94070, United States
I like the concept of multiple quick bite restaurants consolidated. The BahMin sandwich was warm and good, but I encountered some thin, hair lime plastic in the sandwich. Bummer.Sadly, at lunch on Friday (1:30ish - so very late) the place was blaring bad music, and empty. Certainly nobody was lounging around here. The free water pitcher was near empty and warm. The refrigerated cooler near empty except for 1 brand of $5 tea and cokes and sprite in a can. Nothing else to choose. The space is too big with no decor for the experience and investment (or lack) noshery has made.i remember the BBQ place that used to be here. It was ok. Its a hard part of Laurel street for foot traffic, though one place 1 block north did it. Rooting for Noshery, but not sure how this format can survive.
LuLus on Laurel Street
876 Laurel St, San Carlos, CA 94070, United States
Food was meh. My problem with this place was the front end clerk, Brenda, who found it extremely difficult to even crack a smile or greet customers. I watched as the 3 people in line in front of me were simply starred at as they approached. No greeting, no may I help you? Very strange. When it was my turn I got the same cold treatment. After placing my ordered I commented, You guys dont seem very happy to which Brenda replied, Its hot and I hate this stupid uniform.Wow. Okay. I was there too once - worked fast food and it wasnt the greatest job in the world but I found a way to overcome and be friendly to the people who were paying my salary.The San Jose sharks happened to be playing on this particular evening and I inquired with Brenda at the time of ordering if they could change the channel from whatever talk show was on to the game. She told me it was too difficult to find the correct channel. I looked it up and gave her the channel number. She completely ignored me for the next 30 minutes we were there eating (not because they were busy either - though changing a channel on a remote takes all of 5 seconds). This is pretty sad because I would have settled in a bit and had a couple beers and another snack or two.Lost business on this day AND future visits all because some breezy who hates her job. Nice.